Computer cable shroud and air diffuser

ABSTRACT

A computer cable shroud and air diffuser for efficiently utilizing conditioned air and for minimizing the loss of air circulation directed to a computer, having a square lower floor section or air diffuser tile juxtaposed to a plurality of floor tiles forming a floor slab or platform on which a computer is supported and at which location underfloor conditioned air is supplied. The shroud and air diffuser includes a rectangular upper section or air supply collar having openings enclosed by removable tabs whereby the unit is versatile in that a number of these tabs may be removed to direct conditioned air to desired predetermined locations of the computer and further including a plastic ribbon shroud for encircling cables directed from under the platform through the shroud and air diffuser to the computer which ribbon shroud is of a material which is pliable to take the configuration of the cables and can be hardened in said configuration and further being of the same material as the rectangular upper section of the diffuser for plastic bond to said upper section thereby preventing escape of conditioned air to undesirable locations of the computer to prevent waste of the conditioned air.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George Bell 420 Fairview Ave, Fort Lee, NJ. 07024 211 App]. No. 828,282

[22] Filed {45] Patented May 27, 1969 June 22, I971 [54] COMPUTER CABLE SHROUD AND AIR DIFFUSER Primary Examiner-Lewis H. Myers Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin Attorney-Constatine A. Michalos ABSTRACT: A computer cable shroud and air difiuser for efficiently utilizing conditioned air and for minimizing the loss of air circulation directed to a computer, having a square lower floor section or air diffuser tile juxtaposed to a plurality of floor tiles forming a floor slab or platform on which a computer is supported and at which location underfloor conditioned air is supplied. The shroud and air diffuser includes a rectangular upper section or air supply collar having openings enclosed by removable tabs whereby the unit is versatile in that a number of these tabs may be removed to direct conditioned air to desired predetermined locations of the computer and further including a plastic ribbon shroud for encircling cables directed from under the platform through the shroud and air diffuser to the computer which ribbon shroud is of a material which is pliable to take the configuration of the cables and can be hardened in said configuration and further being of the same material as the rectangular upper section of the diffuser for plastic bond to said upper section thereby preventing escape of conditioned air to undesirable locations of the computer to prevent waste of the conditioned air.

PATENTEUJUNZZIQYI 35 6,5315

l N VENTOR. A GEORGE BELL 20 A BY 4s 42 42 2 g 7 I6 C HTTOPNEY COMPUTER CABLE SHROUD AND AIR DIFFUSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to air diffusers and more particularly to a combination computer cable floor opening shroud and air diffuser tile for directing conditioned air to desired predetermined locations of the computer by removing precut tabs at said aforesaid desired locations. I

Heretofore, different systems were used for supplying or distributing air to different locations of a computer but these systems were very inefficient to the extent that separate or auxiliary air conditioning was needed to cool the computers. This invention was developed based on the belief that air conditioner's designed for' computers should be of a more customized nature, that is, in converting comfort cooling areas into computer areas, using the same quantity'of supplied air. Usually the computers require greater air volumes than those required for comfort cooling, ranging from three to seven times greater than the air volumes for comfort cooling. This invention possesses the ability to utilize comfort cooling air for both comfort cooling and for air conditioning a computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION of conditioned air which are critically in need of air refrigerant.

Therefore, a primary object of this invention is to provide for a computer cable shroud and air diffuser tile that is versatile in that it includes removable tabs at its periphery which can be removed to direct air cooling to desired predetermined location of the computer thereby preventing waste of conditioned air, and by which unit the amount of air circulation is kept to a minimum thereby reducing the load placed upon air conditioning systems.

Another object of this invention is to provide for a computer cable shroud and air diffuser having a cutout central portion for the passage of computer cables which is enclosed by a plastic. shroud taking the configuration of the overall computer cable grouping coming out of a computer support to deter air from escaping from between the cable areas and to further provide for removable tabs which can be removed at desired predetermined locations of the computer to direct conditioned air at critical locations of the computer.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a computer cable shroud and air diffuser that can be utilized to convert comfort cooling areas into computer areas using the same quantity of supplied conditioned air.

An additional object of this invention is to provide for a computer cable shroud and air diffuser tile which can be placed on the floor juxtaposed to a plurality of other floor tiles over a floor plenum wherein conditioned air under a low positive static pressure can be used and wherein a fixed air pattern can be produced by removing a predetermined number of tabs from the diffuser to direct the conditioned air to desired predetermined locations of the computer.

Another and further object of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, which by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and what we now consider to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appendant claims.

air diffuser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the computer cable shroud and air diffuser of FIG. 1; and, 1

FIG. 3 is a side view of the computer cable shroud and air diffuser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. p

. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing a computer cable shroud and air diffuser unit 10 is comprised of a square lower floor section air difi'u ser base l2 which may be in the form of a floor tile, a rectangular section or air supply collar 14, supported on the border of an air difiuser base opening 18 and a plastic ribbon shroud 16 supported on the collar 14. The cable shroud and air diffuser tile unit 10 can be placed on the floor in juxtaposition to a plurality of other floor tiles to form a continuous floor or platform which can support a computer. Beneath the floor or platform conditioned air is directed as shown by arrows 20 into base opening 18 which in tum is diffused-to the computer by means of the computer cable shroud and air diffuser unit 10, as hereinafter more fully described.

The computer cable shroud and air diffuser unit 10 can be fabricated of a pair of substantially opposed sections 22 and 24 or can be individually formed and then plastic bonded. That is, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the air diffuser base 12 is comprised of opposed sections 26 and 28 that are abutted at ends 30 and 32 of sections 26 and 28 respectively. The collar 14 is formed of opposed sections 34 and 36 which are also abutted as sections 26 and 28 of the base 12 and then plastic bonded to sections 26 and 28 at corners 33 and 35 on the border of the opening 18. The ribbon shroud 16 is formed of sections 38 and 40 and is plastic bonded at corner 41 to the collar 14. The sections 22 and 24 can then be secured to each other by nuts and bolts 42.

The sections 38 and 40 of the ribbon shroud 16 are formed by placing a pliable material against cables 46 emerging from under the floor supporting the computer to take the form shown in FIG. 2 and then the pliable material is left to harden to form an opening 48 which is'in close relationship to the cable configuration formed by all the cables 46. Once the sections 38 and 40 are shaped in close proximity to the cables, the rectangular air supply collar proximity to the cables, the rectangular air supply collar 14 is cut out to form an opening identical to opening 48 which in turn is in the shape of the two opposed sections 38 and 40. The opposed sections 38 and 40 are then placed above the rectangular collar 14 and then plastic bonded as hereinbefore described.

Around the periphery of the rectangular supply collar are formed a plurality of removable tabs 50 which can be removed as shown at 52 to connect the opening 18 from the inside of the diffuser l0 to desired predetermined locations of the computer which are in need of conditioned air.

Tabs at 54 are shown still attached to the collar 14 thereby preventing air from escaping.

It should be noted that if it is desired that air be directed in a desired predetermined area of the computer, such as an area located at an adjacent corner 56 of the diffuser 10, as viewed in FIG. 1, then tabs are removed to form openings 58 and 60 to permit conditioned air to be directed outwardly, as shown by arrows 62 and 64 to the computer at said location. If it is desired that air be directed to a location of the computer which is adjacent to comer 66 of the difi'user then tabs will be removed to permit openings 68, 70, and 72 to thereby allow air to be directed through these openings, as shown by arrows 74, 76, and 78.

Further, if it is not desired that the computer be cooled at area adjacent to corner of collar 14 of the diffuser 10 then tabs 82, 84, and 86 should not be removed in order to prevent air going to that location of computer adjacent to corner 80.

Therefore, as best shown in FIG. 1, 'air is permitted to be directed to the computer locations adjacent to corners 56 and 66 of the diffuser 10.

While the present invention has been described in connection with air conditioning a computer, it will be apparent that this invention will be useful in other applications and in other units needing conditioned air than those described herein.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be constructed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A computer cable shroud and air diffuser comprising a floor tile base used in juxtaposed relation with floor tiles in forming a continuous floor for supporting a computer above said floor, a collar extending from said base including a plurality of removable tabs circumferentially of said collar whereby a desired predetermined number of said tabs can be removed for directing conditioned air to desired predetermined locations of the computer, a ribbon shroud integral to said collar and extending about a cluster of cables directed from the floor to the computer, said shroud operably being formed and shaped about the cluster of cables whereby conditioned air is obstructed from escaping through the opening formed by said cables.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shroud includes opposed ribboned sections forming an opening of the shape or configuration formed by the cluster of cables directed from the floor to the computer and means for attachment of said opposed ribboned sections to form a substantially enclosed opening to prevent air from escaping through the cable openmg.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said floor tile base includes opposed sections ofsubstantially the same configuration, and said collar includes opposed sections of substantially the same configuration, each integral to one section of said tile base, and further comprising a ribbon shroud including opposed sections each integral to one section of said collar and having the configuration of a cluster of cables directed from the floor to the computer and attaching means for locking together the opposed sections in forming the air diffuser as a unit. 

1. A computer cable shroud and air diffuser comprising a floor tile base used in juxtaposed relation with floor tiles in forming a continuous floor for supporting a computer above said floor, a collar extending from said base including a plurality of removable tabs circumferentially of said collar whereby a desired predetermined number of said tabs can be removed for directing conditioned air to desired predetermined locations of the computer, a ribbon shroud integral to said collar and extending about a cluster of cables directed from the floor to the computer, said shroud operably being formed and shaped about the cluster of cables whereby conditioned air is obstructed from escaping through the opening formed by said cables.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said shroud includes opposed ribboned sections forming an opening of the shape or configuration formed by the cluster of cables directed from the floor to the computer and means for attachment of said opposed ribboned sections to form a substantially enclosed opening to prevent air from escaping through the cable opening.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said floor tile base includes opposed sections of substantially the same configuration, and said collar includes opposed sections of substantially the same configuration, each integral to one section of said tile base, and further comprising a ribbon shroud including opposed sections each integral to one section of said collar and having the configuration of a cluster of cables directed from the floor to the computer and attaching means for locking together the opposed sections in forming the air diffuser as a unit. 